The Spectator, Volumes 1, 2 and 3 eBook

A Widow Lady, who straggled this Summer
from London into my Parish for the Benefit
of the Air, as she says, appears every Sunday
at Church with many fashionable Extravagancies,
to the great Astonishment of my Congregation.

But what gives us the most Offence is
her theatrical Manner of Singing the Psalms.
She introduces above fifty Italian Airs into
the hundredth Psalm, and whilst we begin All
People in the old solemn Tune of our Forefathers,
she in a quite different Key runs Divisions on the
Vowels, and adorns them with the Graces of Nicolini;
if she meets with Eke or Aye, which are frequent
in the Metre of Hopkins and Sternhold,[4]
we are certain to hear her quavering them half a Minute
after us to some sprightly Airs of the Opera.

I am very far from being an Enemy to Church
Musick; but fear this Abuse of it may make my Parish
ridiculous, who already look on the Singing Psalms
as an Entertainment, and no Part of their Devotion:
Besides, I am apprehensive that the Infection may
spread, for Squire Squeekum, who by his Voice
seems (if I may use the Expression) to be cut out
for an Italian Singer, was last Sunday
practising the same Airs.

I know the Lady’s Principles, and
that she will plead the Toleration, which (as she
fancies) allows her Non-Conformity in this Particular;
but I beg you to acquaint her, That Singing the Psalms
in a different Tune from the rest of the Congregation,
is a Sort of Schism not tolerated by that Act.

I am, SIR, Your very humble Servant,
R. S.

Mr. SPECTATOR,

In your Paper upon Temperance, you prescribe
to us a Rule of drinking, out of Sir William
Temple, in the following Words; The first
Glass for myself, the second for my Friends, the third
for Good-humour, and the fourth for mine Enemies.
Now, Sir, you must know, that I have read this your
Spectator, in a Club whereof I am a Member;
when our President told us, there was certainly an
Error in the Print, and that the Word Glass
should be Bottle; and therefore has ordered
me to inform you of this Mistake, and to desire you
to publish the following Errata: In the Paper
of Saturday, Octob. 13, Col. 3. Line
11, for Glass read Bottle.

Yours, Robin Good-fellow.

L.

[Footnote 1: Metaphor,]

[Footnote 2: that]

[Footnote 3: As the Roderigo whose money Iago
used.]

[Footnote 4: Thomas Sternhold who joined Hopkins,
Norton, and others in translation of the Psalms, was
groom of the robes to Henry VIII. and Edward VI.]